Hospital chair



Sept. 9, 1952 PRATT 2,609,862

HOSPITAL CHAIR Filed Aug. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l Zhmentor E Marion 1.. Prafi m 7M Gttomeg M. L. PRATT HOSPITAL CHAIR Sept. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1946 Snwutor Mar/0r? L Pra/f 55: Q Q .I

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Patented Sept. 9, 1952 nosPrrAL CHAIR Marion L. Pratt, Topeka, Kans., assignor, by di- 1 rect and mesne assignments, to The Marion Chair Company, Inc., Topeka, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application August 21, 1945. Serial No. 591,992

Thisinvention relates to hospital equipment and more particularly to hospital chairs and the like adapted for conversion into a stretcher for moving patients and supporting said patient in any desiredposition irom reclining to sitting.

-Various forms of chairs and wheel mounted stretchers are well known. They may be moved. to the side of thepatients bed and then two or three nurses are required to move the patient from the bed to the stretcher or chair. This is particularly true where the patient has an injury or ailment'thatis painful when the ailing member is moved Thereare many cases, for example, a broken leg, where a patient may sit up and be moved in and out of theroom if movement from the'bed to a wheel chair could be performed without pain or injury to the patient.

Oonventionalforms of chairs and stretchers not only present aproblem of lifting thepatient off the bed onto 'the chairorstretcher or vice versa,'but thereis also the ever present danger that the chair or stretcherwill move as the patient is being'placed thereon greatly endangering the patient and in some cases even causing the patientto be dropped onto the floor. This conditionalso prevails in moving apatientto and from an operating room.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a chair in which the body supporting membersmay be adjusted relative to a bed or other surface whereby the patient may be moved directly onto the chair without lifting said patient; toprovide for centrally locating the operative structure of the chairformin'g extensive over-hanging portions of the body supporting member for permitting said portions to overlap the bed and be moved downwardly thereon until the bodysupp'orting members are substantially on a level -with the remainderof the bed whereby a patient who is able to move may slidehimself onto the-chair and in the case of a helpless patient, a single nurse, with the aidof a blanket or the like under-the patient, may slide saidpatient ontothe body supporting members without injury o'r painto thepatient; to provide back and leg sections capable-of adjustment to any desired inclination; to 1 provide an adjustable foot rest on theleg'section; to providefoot-operated control for raising andldwring the body supporting members; to provide foot-operated brakes to prevent movement of the chair; to provide centrally "located controls for angular adjustment of the back and legsections; to provide an all-metal'chair to facilitate maintenance ina sanitary condition; to provide relatively thin fore dangerous to move -2 Claims. (01. 155-30) sections of the bodysupporting membersrto provide an improved hospital chair of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, yet positive and efiicient in its use for the movement of a patient from a bed to said chair without any detrimental effects on the patient; and to provide a chair-capable of being used for the substantially painless movement of patients that were heretoin conventional stretchers and chairs. l

Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill be had from the following description of the apparatus, reference beingjhad to the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred form of the present inventionis shown.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device comprising the present invention, the respective parts being shown in chair forining position;

Fig. 2 is'a perspective viewof the device, the respective parts thereof being arranged inform a stretcher, said device being shown in position relative to a bed for movement of a patient thereon. V

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the chair, the body supporting portions being shown overlapping and compressing the mattress on said bed for movement of a patient thereon.

Fig.4 is'a longitudinal sectional view through the hospital chair,

Fig. 5is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion oi the chair elevating mechanism showing the operating parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is a bottomperspective View of the seat and leg sections particularlyillustrating 1e leg section inclination locking apparatus.

' Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a hospital chair composed generally of a base 2 carrying an elevating mechanism 3, serving as an adjustablesupport forbody supporting members 4. The base structure in this instance is formed of sheet metal and consists of a central flat portion 5, having a downwardly sloping forward portion 6, terminating in a horizontal extension 1 for suitably mounting a caster wheel 8. The rear portionof thebase is provided with downwardly and outwardly sloping legs 9 and I0 terminatingin horizontal portions I l and [2 adapted to mount rollers 13 and it, said rollers I3 and It being spaced laterally sufiiciently to provide suitable support for the chair and to prevent tipping thereof. The entireperiphery of the base portion is provided with a downwardly extending flange I5 providing rigidity to the structure. The rollersB, l3 and I4 are preferably rubber-tired wheels to provide quiet operation as is desirable in moving such equipment in a hospital.

Pivotally mounted on the leg portions 9 and H] are brake pedals l6 and I1 having suitable connection by links IS, with brake levers l9 pivotally mounted to the extensions H and I2 and adapted to contact the rollers l3 and M in response to movement of the pedals l6 and H to prevent movement of said rollers. The brake pedals I6 and I1 are so arranged relative to the links I8 that said connection between the pedal.

and the links pass center when the brakes are applied as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the brakes being in released position when the pedals are as shown in Fig. l.

The central portion of the base is provided with an aperture to receive a hydraulic cylinder 2|. The aperture 26 is preferably reinforced by a collar 22 mounted on the lower side of the central portion of the base 5 by means of a flange 23 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the base member. Cylinder 2| extends through the aperture and is secured in position by means of a collar 24 mounted or otherwise suitably fastened to the cylinder and preferably provided with a flange 25 which may be suitably secured to the base and the flange 23, for example, by means of cap screws 26. Cylinder 2| consists of an outer wall 21 and'an inner wall 28 spaced from said outer wall to provide a chamber 29 therebetween, the upper end of said chamber being closed by an end wall 36. The inner wall 23 is provided with a bore 3| adapted to receive a piston 32, reciprocal therein, the upper end of which supports the body supporting members 4 as later described. Providing additional support and also forming a guide to maintain alignment of the body supporting member with the base structure is a tubular post 33 extending through an aperture 34 in the central portion of the base member and spaced from the aperture 26, said post being welded to the base structure as at 35. Adjacent to the upper end of the post 33 is a collar 36 adapted to form a support for an arm 31 having .s'paced apertures 38 and 39 adapted to sleeve over the post 33 and cylinder 2| respectively to maintain spacing at the upper end of the cylinder and post and to provide a more rigid structure. The arm 31 is held in place by means of a cap 40 threaded on the upper end of the post 33, the lower edges 4| of said cap engaging the arm 31. The cap 46 is provided with a central aperture 42 adapted to slidably receive a rod 43 suitably secured to the bodysupporting member as later described. v

While I have shown an elevating mechanism as being hydraulically actuated, it is obvious that other suitable mechanisms may be used.

In the illustrated structure, the lower end of the tubular wall 28, preferably is provided with internal threads 44 adapted to engage threads 45 on a plug 46 for the bore 3|. The plug 46 is preferably provided with an enlarged portion 41 below the wall 23 adapted to engage the inside surface of the cylinder 2| which is preferably longer and extends downwardly from the wall 28 whereby the portion 41 seals the chamber 29 between the walls 2| and 2.8 of the cylinder. The lower end of the plug 46 and the wall 2| are threaded as at 48 and adapted to engage threads 49 of a cap 50 closing the lower end of the hydraulic device.

The rear of the cap 56 is provided with a projection 5| having a threaded recess 52 in the upper face 53 thereof, said face 53 sloping relative 4 to the upper portion of the base, and arranged perpendicular to the recess 52 to mount a pump body 54 which extends through an aperture, the central portion of the base structure to the rear of the cylinder 2|. The pump 54 includes a plunger 55 extending upwardly from the pump cylinder as at 56, the upper end of said plunger being pivotally connected to a pump operating level 51 as at 58. The forward end of the lever 51 terminates adjacent to cylinder 2| and is pivotally connected as at 59 with a link 60 pivotally mounted on upwardly extending ears 6| on the flange 25 whereby the cars 56, link 66 and the respective pivotal connections provide a fulcrum for the pump lever 51. The rearward end of the lever 51 isprovided with a plate 62 adapted to be engaged by the foot of an operator whereby actuation of said lever will force the piston down in the pump 54, said lever being returned to its upper position by means of a spring 63 sleeved on, the plunger 55, and having engagement with the end 6| of the pump and a washer or the like 64 having bearing contact on said lever 51.

The plug and cap 46 and 50 respectively, are provided with passageways 65 leading from the chamber 29 which forms a liquid reservoir to the recess 52, said passage 65 being provided with a check valve 66 permitting flow from the chamber 29 to the pump and stopping return flow therefrom. The plug and cap 46 and 50 are also provided with a passage 61 leading from the recess '52 to the bore 3| The passage 61 adjacent to recess 52 is'then provided with an enlarged bore 68 to receive a valve check 69 adapted to close the aperture 16 in e, plug 1| located in the upper I end of the enlarged bore 68. The check valve is held in closing position by means of a spring 12 to prevent flow of liquids from the bore 3| to the pump yet permitting flow of liquids from the pump to the bore in response to reciprocation of the plunger in said pump. Actuation of the pump 54 removes liquid from the chamber 29 and delivers it to the bore 3| thereby forcing the piston 32 upwardly in the bore 3 In order to release liquid from the bore 3| to permit lowering of the piston therein, the plug 7 46 is provided with a central bore 13, the upper end of which is adapted to receive a ball 14 to control the flow of liquid from the bore 3|. Located in the bore 13 is a plunger 15 extending downwardly through a central aperture 16 in the cap 56 and adapted to be engaged by fingers 11 of a plurality of chair-lowering levers 18, said levers being pivotally mounted on pins 19 extending through ears mounted on the lower face of the cap 50, said levers being arranged preferably at approximately 90 to each other, whereby one lever extendsto the rear and the other two levers extend to the side of said chair.

The bore 13 is connected by means of a passage 8| with a chamber 29. The lower end of said bore 13 is sealed by means of bellows 82, the upper end of which is secured in sealing contact with the upper end of a-counterbore 83 of the plug 46, the lower end of said bellows being secured to a collar 84 of the plunger 15 whereby operation of the levers 18 raises the plunger 15 into'engagement with the ball 14 to liftsame from its seat, permitting flow of liquids from, the bore 3| through the bore 13, passage 8| to the chamber 29. The liquid moving into the bellows will not interfere with operation of the plunger 15 as the passage 8| forms connection with the chamber 29.

Mounted on the upper end of the piston 32 is'a plate 85 which also carries the rod 43 spaced foraeoasec wardly from the piston 32. Secured to the corners of the plate '85are tubular braces 86, the outer ends of which are secured to the corner 81 of a rectangular tubular frame "89 formingthe frame of the seat section of the body supporting member 4. Covering the frame 88 and having its edges secured thereto is a panel 89 preferably made of stainless steel to form the seat of the chair, said panel 89 having contact with the upper face 99 of the plate 85. The corners of the panel 89 are preferably cut as at 9| exposing the corners of the frame 88 and the ends of the braces 86. Located adjacent the corners of the frame 83 are bosses 92 having bores 93 adapted to receive pins 94 mounted in the ends of U-shaped arms 95 whereby the pins may be inserted in the bores to support said arms. When it is desired that there be no obstruction on the sides of the seat section, the arms are removed by lifting same from the bosses.

Secured to the rear end members of the frame 89 are a plurality of bearings 96 having bores 91 adapted to receive an end member 98 of 3, rectangular tubular frame 99 forming the back section of the body supporting member whereby the back section is pivotally mounted on the seat section. The frame 99 is covered with a metal top I00 having its edges secured to the frame 99.

mm shape and the frame thereof being of tubular. steel. 'Theleg sections are .covered with sheet metal, preferably of stainless steel as at III andl'I I8. The corners of the panels are cut as at I I9to exposethe corners of the frame to I provide handholds therein.

The inclination of the respective. leg supporting sections areicontrolled similarly to the control of the backtsection, said leg sections being movable independently of each other. As shown in Fig. 6, twosegments I20 are mounted on the seat section'and adapted to be engaged by pawls I I2I from the respective toothed segments I20 permitting thelowering of the respective leg section. I When itisdesired to lift the leg section, the upward'move'ment of the forward end thereof leg sections-and'be movable thereon to adjust The top I00 is preferably of stainless steel and is I cut as at IIlI to expose thecorn-ers of the frame 99 providing handholds to be grasped by the nurse or other person controlling operation of the chair. Mounted on the underside of the back section and preferably between the ends thereof is an angle I62 having its ends secured to the side members of the frame 99. Secured to the lower leg I93 of the angle I02 is a pair of spaced angles I04 having horizontal legs extending outwardly from downwardly extending legs I95, said horizontal legs being securedto the angle I52 and the end member 98 of the frame 99. The angles I94 are provided with extensions I99 adapted to engage underthe plate 8'5 when the back section is in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4. Pivotally mounted on the angles Hi l is a pawl It! adapted to engage teeth I 06 of a segment I 09, said segment being mounted rigidly on the seat section of the chair and coaxial with the bearings 96. The teeth I98 are so arranged that when the detent IIIJ carried by the pawl Illl engages therein, the back portion of the chair is held against downward movement relative to the seat section. When it is desired to lower the back section, the detent I III is released from. the teeth I93 by means of a link. III having connection with the lower end of the pawl ID], the other end of said link being connected to a lever I I2 pivotally mounted adjacent the center of the rear end of theframe 59. When it is desired to raise the back section, lifting the rear portion thereof will said body supporting members engaging a bed or a the like as shown in Fig. 3. Secured to the end portion of the frame 88 opposite the back section are bearings H3 adapted to pivotally mount end members H4 of leg supporting sections H5 and H6, said leg supporting sections being rectangusamefor different heighth people. The preferred form of foot rest consists of a U-shaped tubular frame I 21 for each of the leg portions, said frame being covered with a metal plate I28. ihe ends of the tubular frame preferably mount U-shaped members I29 adapted to slide over the side of the legsection frames H5 and I I6 whereby pressure on the foot rests will cause engagement of the U-shaped members with the leg section frames to anchor the foot rests in position, however, to supplement the clamping action and prevent movement of the root rests when there is no pressure thereon, screws I30 may-be provided in the lower portion ofthe U-shaped members I2i adapted to engage the frames H5 and lit to anchor the footrests in place.

It is to be noted that all of the apparatus under the body supporting sections is located relatively close to the longitudinal center of the chair whereby the body supportingsections are provided withsubstantial lateral overhang particu larly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Using a chair; substantially constructed as described, and particularly for moving a patient froma hospital bed to the chairythe chair is moved to the side of the hospital bed, the back section of the bodysupporting'members being arranged at the head end of the bed; the arm adjacentto the bed, and the foot rests are removed from the chair and the back and leg sec-' tions moved to a horizontal position. The operator will then use-his foot to actuate the pump lever 51.120 move liquid from the chamber 29 to the .bore3I to raise the piston 32 and thereby raise the bodyxsupportingsections a point above the mattresson the hospital bed as shown by the dotted lines shown in Fig. 3. The chair is moved closeto the bed until the side of the body supporting members overhang the edge of the bed, andthe brake. pedals I6 and H are actuated to engage the brakes with the rollers I3 and It to prevent movement of the chair. One of the low-- ering levers I8 is pressed to actuate the plungers 75 to lift the ball valve I4 permitting hydraulic fluid to flow from the bore 3| to the reservoir chamber 29 thereby lowering the body supporting portion into engagement with the mattress of the hospital bed. Pressure preferably should be applied to the seat section to force the body supporting member downwardly in the mattress until the panels on the body supporting portion are substantially level with the mattress on the bed. A person able to move himself may then slide across the bed and onto the chair Without diiiiculty or pain. Any one incapable of movement may be moved by. one nurse grasping the sheet or blanket on the bed, pulling same together with the patient until the patient is located on the chair. Such operation can be carried on by one nurse without injury or pain to the patient regardless of the size of the patient.

The brake engaging the rollers l3 and I4 and the engagement of the body supporting sections and the frame members thereof with the mattress of the bed absolutely prevent any relative movement between the chair and the bed. The brakes may then be released, the pump actuated to lift the body supporting members away from the mattress and the chair moved away from the bed. The arm 95 can be replaced and the patient moved with the sections in horizontal position whereby it serves as a stretcher, the elevation of the body supporting members being adjusted to any desired elevation. In the same manner a patient may be transferred from the chair to an operating table or the like. If the person is able to sit up the seat and body portions may be lowered, the foot rests applied, the leg sections lowered, the back section raised to provide a chair of substantially normal height and the patient moved to any desired position, the brakes set and the patient left to enjoy the surroundings without danger of movement of the chair.

The device is easily maintained in sanitary 7 condition and'is capable of many uses and adaptations for hospital and doctors use, enabling thepersonnel to handle movement of patients quicker and with substantially no discomfort to said patients.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described including aplurality of relatively thin hinge sections of sheet metal reinforced at the edges and having fiat supporting surfaces forming a body supporting member adapted to substantially conform to the plane of a mattress of a bed, the side edges of said sections being of substantially uniform thickness, means for locking said sections in selected hinged relation, a base, an hydraulic lifting means on the base for supporting the body supporting member and providing vertical movement thereto, said lifting means being centrally located to provide substantial overhanging relatively thin laterally extending portions at each side of the body supporting member which are characterized by the absence of obstructions on the top and bottom thereof, and rollers on the base for moving same bodily to position the lifting means alongside of the bed, whereby said portions may overlie the edge of a bed and be lowered to depress the mattress thereon, said overhanging portions of the body supporting member being relatively thin Whereby small depression of the mattress thereunder positions the flat supporting surfaces substantially on a level with the remainder of the mattress for sliding movement of a patient from one to the other of the supporting surfaces and mattress without lifting of said patient.

2. An invalid chair of the character described, a base, a vertical hydraulic lifting means substantially centrally of said base, rollers on the base for moving same bodily to position the lifting means alongside of a bed, seat, back and leg sections each of which is sheet material reinforced at the edges and having flat supporting surfaces, the side edges of said sections being of substantially uniform thickness, means hingedly connecting the back and leg sections on opposite ends of the seat section, means for mounting the seat section on the lifting means whereby said lifting means is located under the central por tion of the seat section to provide substantial overhanging relatively thin laterally extending portions of uniform thickness and characterized by the absence of obstructions on the top and bottom thereof whereby the sides of said sections are adapted to overlie the edge of a bed, means for imparting vertical movement to the lifting means, and means adjacent the longitudinal center of the chair for supporting said leg and back sections at selected inclinations relative to the seat section, said back, seat and leg sections being adapted to conform to the plane of a mattress of a bed whereby upon lowering of the lifting means the portions of the sections overlying the bed will press a mattress thereon, said overhanging portions being relatively thin whereby slight depression of the mattress will position the fiat supporting surfaces of the sections substantially on the level with the remainder of the mattress.

MARION L. PRATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Leisenring Jan. 30, 1894 Lotridge Aug. 21, 1894 Schmidt July 4, 1916 Cannon et al Jan. 25, 1927 Smith et a1. Jan. 22, 1929 Schafier May 3, 1932 Koenigkramer 1 Mar. 24,1936 Sechrist et al. Mar. 31, 1936 Capron Aug, 29, 1939 Costa et a1 1. June 22, 1943 Letch Oct. 12, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS V 5 Country Date Germany May 24, 1913 Great Britain June 20, 1901 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1938 Switzerland 1.- Feb. 1, 1936 Number 

